Semafore Pharmaceuticals

About Semafore Pharmaceuticals

Semafore Pharmaceuticals was a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company founded in 2000, which is now out of business. The Indianapolis-based company concentrated on developing small molecule modulators for the PI3 Kinase (PI3K) and PTEN cell signaling pathway, a significant target for various disorders, with a primary focus on cancer. Semafore was among the initial biopharmaceutical firms to target both PI3K and PTEN, creating a portfolio of drug candidates.

The company's lead clinical candidate was SF1126, a PI3K inhibitor developed for cancer treatment. SF1126 showed promising activity in preclinical models for a range of cancers, including prostate, breast, lung, leukemia, and brain cancer. In November 2010, the U.S. FDA granted orphan drug designation to SF1126 for treating B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The company's operations were supported by a combination of equity financing and grants. In January 2007, Semafore completed a Series B financing round of approximately $9.5 million. Over the preceding year, it had also received nearly $4 million in grants from organizations like Indiana's 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation.

Dr. Joseph Garlich served as the company's President and Chief Scientist, and later as Chief Scientific Officer. In 2007, Edward L. Jacobs was appointed President and CEO, while John Sima, who had been interim CEO, resumed his roles as COO and CFO. However, the company faced legal challenges, including a 2010 lawsuit from a cancer researcher, Donald L. Durden, who alleged breach of agreement and non-payment of royalties related to the co-invented compound SF1126. The company ultimately ceased operations.